Joseph Watson (RAAF)

Joseph Watson (RAAF)

Personal Information
Date of Birth	1 May 1915
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Death	1972
Place of Death	Mount Margaret, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	25 years 9 months
Description	5' 9½" (1.77m) tall ; 134lbs 60.781 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Kondinin, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Joseph Watson
Military Information
Reg Number	38053
Date of Enlistment	26 Feb 1941
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	No. 36 Squadron RAAF
Post War Details
Medals	Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Enlisted on 26 Feb 1941 as a Messman and on 26 Mar 1941 he was posted to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF in Cunderdin. From 5 May until 3 Jun 1941 Joseph participated in a Recruit Drill Course. Joseph was then sent to No. 1 School of Technical Training RAAF in Carlton, Victoria from 13 Jul - 14 Aug 1941 to participate in the 12th Mess Stewards Course, before re-mustering as a Steward on 9 Aug 1941. Rather than return to Cunderdin he was next posted to No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie on 15 Aug 1941, and while there he spent from 29 August until 5 September receiving medical treatment. On 22 Jan 1942 Joseph was posted to No. 4 Embarkation Depot RAAF in Adelaide. Sent to the Northern Territory, Joseph's next posting was on 2 Feb 1942 to RAAF Base Darwin.

On 20 Apr 1942 Joseph joined No. 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron RAAF, remaining with them until he was transferred to HQ North West Area RAAF on 19 Feb 1943, and then on 18 Apr 1943 to the No. 55 Operational Base Unit RAAF at Birdum in the Northern Territory. Following a short stay (18 Apr - 19 May 1943) in the RAAF Wing of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, he was then posted back to Western Australia via No. 4 Stores Depot RAAF on 19 May 1943, where on 14 Aug 1943 he was charged with having been drunk in Railway Parade West Perth (while off duty). For this he was fined 5/- (50 cents). On 16 Jan 1944 he was posted to No. 40 Zone Filter Centre RAAF in Broome where he remained until 28 Jan 1945 when the unit's name changed to Air Defence HQ Broome. He had a short period with No. 36 Squadron RAAF from 22 Oct 1945 until On 5 Dec 1945 when Joseph received his final posting, to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF which facilitated his discharge which took place on 13 Dec 1945.

Post War

Correspondence in his file shows that he was c/o Land Settlement Scheme, Pingelly.

Notes

The addition of RAAF to his name field is in order to distinguish him from 52186 Pte Joseph Watson who served during WW1 in the Army.